2 minute read
Entreprenuer series
from Fall 2020 Issue 1
TEXT & INFOGRAPHICS BY STEPHANIE NICOSIA
DESIGN BY NERISSA CHEE
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After first taking a ceramics class at Citrus College, Isabella realized pottery was directly related to her roots, thus her passion grew.
A faculty member in the cashiers office at Citrus showed her a picture of jewelry and asked if she could replicate it. She did, and soon with encouragement from her friends, she began Brown Hands Create in 2017.
She painted her first mural representing her Indigenous culture that was on display in Pomona Gallery titled “ The Alley Gallery”, she now has the artwork at her home. Finding events to display her work as vendor was her biggest challenge, however that hasn’t stopped her. It motivated her to grow her social media presence on Instagram and soon she plans to open her Etsy shop.
"To me there is a big responsibility to learn these art forms and pass it on. “
Abel Marquez
Abel had initially thought about going straight to Hollywood after high school to become an actor but ultimately started his education at Citrus College first. He fell in love with school through math and became a stem tutor.
Eventually, he turned his focus to the theatre arts program. He credits his friends and mentors, Citrus program coordinator Sherry Brown and Professor Jeremy Lewis for their huge platform of support. He directed a scene while in the stage directors and choreographers union fellowship at a theatre festival and was awarded an internship in national performing arts aqt Kennedy Center American College in Washington D.C. There he took masters classes and made friendships that would ultimately lead to starting his business with his partners.
"The beauty of community college is when you get to carve your own path.“
Matthew and Gabriel have been best friends for 13 years. They went from best friends, band mates, to business partners. Their business ventures started years ago. All the while he has maintained his studies at Citrus College and serves as the PR representative for Open Ocean Records. Matthew is eager for classes to return to campus so he can finish his two remaining courses in person.
Gabriel was visiting Citrus College when he met his future mentor Professor Steven O’Hara. He learned about the Recording Technology Program and quickly switched schools to sign up for classes. After saving up while working in sound production and IT he got the opportunity to rent the warehouse space where Open Oceans Records was born.
